Christian Heavy Metal guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet announces on his instagram the wish to record and release an official worship album.
Michael Sweet, 57, revealed to his Instagram followers that he has long desired to create an authentic worship album, evidently apart from the works of Stryper, the band he helped establish in 1983.
Sweet wrote: "Something I've always wanted to do is to record a worship album. I led worship at my home church for a few years a while back and it was one of the most gratifying moments of my musical history. It strengthened my own faith and brought me closer to God. I'm definitely planning on recording one and I hope you all will join me on this journey. It will be my first 'official' worship album and I've got a really good feeling about this one". Michael continued to describe the project as consisting of "all originals".
Stryper's third album, To Hell With The Devil, released in 1986 by Enigma Records, propelled the outfit to dizzying heights, scoring platinum album status, and the single "Honestly" peaking at 23 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart. Though, as Michael Sweet recalls in a 2018 interview with Detroit Media Press, having platinum status does not mean you are accepted by your compatriots.
"We've never been accepted by either side," Michael stated. "The secular side, the mainstream, they've never accepted us to this day. We're probably that band that everyone's going to go to whenever there's a time to mock. We'll be the band used for that in most cases. Now on the Christian side, we've never really had the full support of the Christian side because we don't fit into their little club. We're not wearing suits and ties and going to every church and preaching."
Stryper's band name comes from a Isaiah 53:5: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Please support bands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Buy tickets to live shows, buy official merchandise, anything you can do to support our favorite artists.
Subscribe and Follow Us on social media to stay up-to-date with Jammed Radar's featured articles
Written by Steve Knudsen
Comments